Phosphatase-triggered guest release from a cyclodextrin complex.

[reaction: see text] A synthetic supramolecular system is described that models the effect of phosphoryl transfer in molecular recognition. beta-Cyclodextrin-6A-phosphate (pCD), which is shown to be a substrate of alkaline phosphatase, binds cationic aromatic guests, including anticancer agents, up to 100-fold better than native beta-CD. The above observations demonstrate that pCD is capable of releasing the guests from its cavity upon hydrolysis with the phosphatase, as also confirmed by monitoring the hydrolysis in the presence of a guest.